Stephanie Jo Smithson

Stephanie Jo (Albertson) Smithson from Marshall, MN, born to Roger and Nancy (Rosen) Albertson on March 19, 1973, in St. Cloud, MN. Stephanie passed away unexpectedly on October 28, 2025 in Stanardsville, Virginia. Memorial services are currently pending.

Stephanie Jo Albertson was born to Roger and Nancy (Rosen) Albertson on March 19, 1973. She graduated with honors from Marshall High School with the class of 1991. Steph worked various jobs in Marshall before moving to Duluth to attend college at the University of Minnesota - Duluth earning her bachelor’s degree in Pre-Med. She then joined the United States Army and was stationed in Kosovo and Germany. Steph proudly studied Russian at the Presidio of Monterey in California.

Steph was united in marriage to Joel Smithson on September 21, 2002. The couple lived in Hawaii, where Joel was stationed, before moving to their present home in Standardsville, Virginia. They had spent much time in recent years traveling back and forth to Arizona and New Mexico.

Steph was unbelievably witty and seemed to have a comeback for anything fiery that was thrown her way. She also had a knack for quoting movies which, if you played a guessing game against her, one would undoubtedly lose every time!

Stephanie, in our opinion, was a Martha Stewart ten-fold. She could do just about anything and excelled at it - particularly cooking, baking, crocheting, sewing, woodworking, organizing, and solving puzzles. Steph was also known to work on cars and fix a variety of issues from plumbing to heating and roofing, you name it - she could do it or fix it. Steph was an engaging teacher who loved being around children, often teaching them about cooking, baking, science nature, trees, and she always encouraged reading.

Steph and Joel traveled to Arizona at the end of July every year for the annual “Smithson” reunion in the mountains. She loved every minute of it and helped in a variety of ways that the families needed. Eventually Steph became the bookkeeper of these events.

Steph Smithson passed away unexpectedly in Virginia on October 28, 2025, with her husband and son by her side. She was an organ donor so many people have already received her gifts.

She is survived by her husband Joel Smithson of Standardsville, VA; son, Jack (and Miranda) Smithson of Las Cruces, NM; daughter, Felisa (and Mike) Bunner of Carnation, WA; grandchildren, Madison & Joel Smithson; father, Roger (and second mom Vicky) Albertson of Marshall, MN; sister, Genevieve (and Jeremy) Maronde of Marshall, MN; brothers, Jeremiah Albertson of Ortonville, MN, Josef Halverson of Minneapolis, MN; nephews, Steven Albertson, Russell Monsen, Mason Maronde; nieces, Nancy Maronde, Sofia Halverson; great-niece, Briella Monsen; and let’s-not-forget her fur-baby, Molly; grand-fur-babies, Grindle, Hero, Mara, Beta; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Steph is preceded in death by her mother, Nancy Jo (Rosen) Albertson; grandfather, George Rosen; grandparents, Norma (Willander) & Ed Heipler, and Archie & Gertrude (Blum) Albertson.